The Transparent Life: Open heart.. Open Hands.. Open Life

Habakkuk: A Study Series Day 5

I’m praying for you that the Lord would continue to hold, encourage, love and teach you through this study!

Saturday we talked about how sometimes God allows hard things into our lives, not to break us but to bring us back to him. Pastor Judah Smith said in a podcast that I heard”I would go through the storm every time, if I could look at Jesus like I’d never seen him before.” I’m praying that on the other side of the storm, I can see him in a new way!

Let’s dive into our verses for today…

Habakkuk 1:8-9 NIV

“Their horses are swifter than leopards,fiercer than wolves at dusk. Their cavalry gallops headlong; their horsemen come from afar. They fly like an eagle swooping to devour;they all come intent on violence.Their hordes advance like a desert windand gather prisoners like sand.”

Here God is still talking about the Chaldeans, the ruthless people that were going to sweep through Judah.

Chaldeans are symbolic of the enemy and Judah of God’s chosen people. You may feel like the enemy is coming against you, but we know how the story ends. Jesus has already won the battle!

Let’s break apart today’s verses..

“Their horses are swifter than leopards, fiercer than wolves at dusk…”

Horses are a sign of strength, sure-footedness, and swiftness. Here God is saying that the horses of the Chaldeans are swifter than leopards which means they are quick, graceful looking and sure in their movement.

He also says they are fiercer than wolves at dusk. Wolves do most of their hunting at dusk. They feed upon vulnerable individuals, such as weak, sick, old, or young animals, or healthy animals hindered by deep snow. They also don’t eat everyday, but they live a feast or famine lifestyle, meaning they go days without a meal, but then eat a ton when they make the kill.

Doesn’t it feel sometimes like the enemy is strong, sure, and swift in his attacks against you?

Doesn’t it also feel like he comes after you when you are weak, sick, tired, or covered in deep water? He sits waiting and then tries to feast on the mess that is your life all at once.

The people of Judah were in a weak place.. they were oppressed and tired. And the Chaldeans moved in.

This all sounds super depressing. Like, great I will just sit while the enemy feasts and hits me until I can’t take it anymore!

In seasons when the enemy is pressing in hard and fast we can remember that God doesn’t let anything touch us that won’t change us for the better.

Today we will cling to James 1:2-4 NLT that says “Dear brothers and sisters,when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.